Three remain in hospital following blaze which claimed the lives of four children under the age of eight

A 24-year-old woman and a man, aged 28, managed to escape the blaze in Sycamore Lane, on the Highfields Estate, Stafford, at 2.40am yesterday (February 5). They jumped out out of a first-floor window with a two-year-old boy

Three people - a man, woman and a two-year-old tot - remain in hospital this morning following a devastating fire which claimed the lives of four children yesterday.

A 24-year-old woman and a man, aged 28, managed to escape the blaze in Sycamore Lane, on the Highfields Estate, Stafford, at 2.40am yesterday (February 5). They jumped out out of a first-floor window with a two-year-old boy.

Eight-year-old Riley Holt, four-year-old Tilly Rose Unitt, Olly Unitt, aged three and their six-year-old brother Keegan Unitt, all died in the blaze.

A Just Giving page set up by the local community has so far raised £18,430 towards its £25,000 target to support the family.

Leanne Wildsmith, aged 30 who also lives on the Highfields estate, said: "My thoughts are with the family. It really brings it home when the children are a similar age to my own. It's what nightmares are made of."

Katrina Whitby, aged 34, from the Highfields estate, said: "I've seen the mum around and the children, it's awful.

"I don't want to upset my children about it because I think Tilly was in my daughter's year. It's quite scary to think this can happen so close to home.